Subaru car lineup, Tokyo Auto Salon 2018

Subaru Corporation and their motorsports wing, Subaru Tecnica International (STI), rolled in a lineup of eight cars to woo visitors at Tokyo Auto Salon 2018.

Despite the auto salon being primarily focused on the aftermarket, the Subaru booth for 2018 featured cars past, present, and future concept, with manufacturer drawing eyes towards the latter and their Subaru VIZIV Performance STI Concept.

Among the racing cars at the TAS 2018 Subaru booth the two “present models” on display were the “WRX STI NBR Challenge 2016” and the “Subaru BRZ GT300 2017.”

WRX STI NBR Challenge 2016

The WRX STI NBR Challenge 2016, from Subaru Tecnica International (STI), claimed a second consecutive SP3T class title at the Nürburgring 24-Hour Race in May, 2016.

The all-wheel drive racing car was driven by a team of drivers from the Netherlands, Germany, and Japan, with Hideharu Tatsumi and Shigeo Sugaya at the helm as General Team Manager and Team Manager respectively.

Subaru BRZ GT300 2017

The Subaru BRZ GT300 2017 was Subaru Tecnica International’s entry into the 2017 Autobacs Super GT Series GT300 class, raced by team R&D Sport. The team ranked 9th for the 2017 season with drivers Takuto Iguchi and Hideki Yamauchi behind the wheel the for third consecutive year.

The BRZ GT300 2017 saw team R&D Sport’s partnership with Dunlop Tyres continue and improvements were made from previous years to the two-door coupe’s two-liter Boxer engine, as well as additional improvements to the car’s aerodynamic parts. The rear-drive setup remained, to the consternation of some enthusiasts.

Whatever the spec, though, this is one cool motorcar.

Subaru VIZIV Performance STI Concept

One of a number of new concepts at Tokyo Auto Salon (indicative of an event that has been spreading its wings, so to speak), anchoring the display at the TAS 2018 Subaru booth was the Subaru VIZIV Performance STI Concept, a design which the manufacturer has earmarked to deliver on its vision of producing cars that “deliver enjoyment and peace of mind.”

The model shown at Tokyo Auto Salon was an STI version of the of VIZIV Performance on display at the Tokyo Motor Show 2017.

At first glance the Subaru VIZIV Performance STI Concept looks the part -- go-faster sharp lines and a tough-looking body squatting with intent on mean rims -- and that’s pretty much all that visitors to the auto show were given to chew on. Subaru were keeping tight lipped on the car’s spec.

BRZ STI Sport

The BRZ STI Sport is for the Japanese market only and is powered by a compact 2L Boxer engine that helps to give this model “pure handling delight,” in the words of the manufacturer.

S208

Another Japan-only model in the Subaru lineup at TAS2018. The S208 houses a 2L Twin Scroll Turbo, all-wheel drive engine.